Recently, you’ve been considering getting Invisalign clear aligners to straighten your teeth. However, recently you found out that you have bruxism, which causes you to grind and clench your teeth involuntarily. Will this condition prevent you from undergoing Invisalign treatment? Or could clear aligners actually help you address the problem? Here’s what you need to know before scheduling your first Invisalign consultation.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign treatment involves multiple clear aligners, each of which is designed to move the teeth slightly closer to their desired alignment. Not only are the aligners very discreet due to being made out of see-through plastic, but they can also be taken out of your mouth at any time, allowing you to continue eating all your favorite foods.
However, if you want your treatment to stay on schedule, you’ll need to wear your current set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. Naturally, this means you’ll have to keep them in your mouth at night, which is when bruxism commonly occurs.
Is It Okay to Get Invisalign Even If You Have Bruxism?
The short answer is yes; even if you’re currently suffering from bruxism, you could still be a viable candidate for Invisalign. In fact, in many cases, Invisalign may be able to help address the underlying cause of your frequent teeth grinding.
When your teeth aren’t aligned the way they should be, they may put an excessive amount of pressure on your jaw joints. This can potentially lead to a TMJ disorder that may make teeth clenching and grinding more likely. Correcting your bite with Invisalign may potentially help relieve your TMJ disorder, which in turn could reduce your bruxism symptoms.
Furthermore, your clear aligners can prevent your upper and lower arches of teeth from making direct contact with each other. As such, Invisalign treatment can have the side benefit of keeping your smile safe from further bruxism-related damage.
Are You a Candidate for Invisalign?
Keep in mind that when you ask your dentist for Invisalign, the first thing they’ll need to do is confirm your candidacy for the treatment. It’s generally a good option for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic issues such as crooked or improperly spaced teeth. Since the aligners are removable, the success of the treatment depends largely on your compliance; therefore, you need to be responsible enough not to take your aligners out more often than you need to.
Regardless of whether you have bruxism or not, Invisalign can be a great choice for your smile. Reach out to your dentist today to set up a consultation so that you can find out whether clear aligners are the best option for you.
About the Author
Dr. Ted Morgan graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, and he has spent over 45 years helping his patients improve their smiles. His Gorham practice, Morgan-Hill Dental Care, offers Invisalign as a way to straighten teeth without braces. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Morgan, visit his website or call (207) 839-2655.